Adjustable link and clamp assembly



Feb. l, 1944. 1 |-l` BOOTH 2,340,301

ADJUSTABLE LINK AND CLAMP ASSEMBLY Filed March 24, 1943y Pmnadreb. 1,1944

, 2,840,801 v ADJUSTABLE LINK AND CLAMP ASSEMBLY James H. Booth, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Thompson' Products, Incorporated, Cleveland, hlo, a corporation of Ohio Application Mai-chin, 1943, serial No. maar 13 Claims. (CI, 287-117) This invention relates 'to adjustable linkages wherein telescoped members are adjusted longitudinally by means of a single enveloping member.

Specincally, the invention relates to an adjustable tie rod and tie rod end assembly including a contractible clamp having two sets of threadsv respectively engaging the tie rod and tie rod end.

While the invention will be specifically hereinafter described as embodied in a tie rod and tie rod end assembly, it should be understood that' the invention is not limited to such an embodiment since it is generally concerned with adjustable linkages.

According to this invention a hollow tie rod has diametrically opposed slots extending inwardly from one end thereof and is externally threaded inwardly from this same end. A tie rod end has a stem or shank extending into the tie rod and equipped with longitudinal keys which project into the tie rod slots to terminate at levels beneath the root diameter of the threads on the tie rod. Each of these keys has spaced lugs sloping transversely thereacross at the same pitch angle and projecting above the tie rod. These lugs are arranged to serve as screw threads. A split clamp is threaded onto the tie rod and has spirally arranged keyways receiving the lugs on the stem. The keyways and lugs cooperate to form a coarse threaded connection extending in the same direction as the threads on the tie rod. As the clamp is rotated on the tie rod, it moves toward or away from the free end of the rod by virtue of the threaded connection therewith. At the same time, however, the lug and keyway connection between the clamp and the tie rod end effects longitudinal shifting of the tie rod end into or out of the rod. The engaging threads of the tie rod and clamp are much ilner and have a lesser pitch than the thread connections formed by the lugs and keyways so that, when the clamp is rotated one turn on the tie rod, it will only advance a small distance o n the tie rod but this one turn will effect an appreciable movement of the tie rod ,end into or out of the tie rod. The adjustment of the tie rod end is eilected by the differences in lead or pitch ofthe two sets of threads since both sets of threads extend in the same direction.

Thus if the threads connecting the clamp with the tie rod have a 1*; inch lead per revolution, and the threads connecting the clamp with the tie rod end have a 1/2 inch lead per revolution, one revolution of the clamp in one direction on the tie rod will move the tie rod end in the oppobetween the leadsl of the two sets of threads, or

11s o! an inch.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide an adjustable link assembly wherein male and female members are moved toward and away from each other by means of `a single member on the female member having threads of one lead engaging the female member and threads of another lead engaging the male member.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable link assembly wherein telescoped members are adjusted through right or left-hand pairs of threads having different leads.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tie rod and tie rod end assembly `whereinthe tie rod end is adjusted into and out of the tie rod by an internally threaded member having one set of threads engaging the tie rod and an-= site direction an amount equal to the dierence other set of threads extending in the same direction but having a diierent lead engaging the tie -rod end.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tie rod and tie rod end assembly whereinthe tie rod endis adjusted relative to the tie rod by means of a clamp having a coarse thread for engaging one of the members and a fine thread for engaging the other member.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a tie rod and tie rod end assembly wherein the tie rod is slotted and receives the stem of a tie rod end and wherein the tie rod end stem has lugs thereon engageable in keyways of a clamp threaded onto the tie rod. v

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed vdescription of the annexed sheet of drawings which, by way of preferred example, illustratev one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tie rod and tie rod end assembly according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged plan view with parts broken away and yshown in horizontal cross section of the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the positions of the parts after the clamp has been rotated one turn.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken generally along the line IV-IV of Figure l.

. Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view ofthe clamp shown in Figures 1 to 4 prior to the cutting of the line threads therein.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the clamp after the fine threads have been cut therein.

As shown on the drawing:

In Figures 1 to 4, the reference numeral I0 designates a hollow tubular tie rod with an exteriorly threaded end portion II having diametrically opposed slots I2-I2 extending inwardly from the threaded end thereof.

A tie rod end I3 has a,l socket I4 tiltably and rotatably supporting a stud I 5. A shank or stem I6 projects laterally from the socket I4 into the tie rod I0. This shank I6 has longitudinally extending keys II-I'I extending into the slots I2- I2 but terminating at levels beneath the root diameter of the threads on the threaded end I I of the rod. Each key I`IIl has a plurality of upstanding lugs I6 at spaced intervals along the length thereof extending in a sloping direction across the widths of the keys. These lugs I6 are helically arranged.

A clamp I9 has a ridged sleeve portion 20 enveloping the threaded end II of the tie rod l together with spaced opposed apertured ears 2 I--2I depending therefrom. These ears receive, as shown in Figure 4, a -bolt 22 therethrough. A nut 23 threaded on the bolt serves to draw the ears 2I-2I together for clamping the sleeve portion 2U on the tie rod.

As shown in Figure 5, the sleeve portion 20 of the clamp I9 has ridges therein defining keyways 24 around the inside of the sleeve. These keyways are arranged in a helical path to receive the end Il and threads 26 -have a 1A@ inch lead, the tie rod end will move out of the tie rod a distance of 'M6 inch per revolution of the clamp.

The slots I2I2 in their -free state are wider thanvthe keys Il--Il so that the clamp I6 can contract the rod tightly around the shank or stem I6 of the tie rod end, to lock the members in adjusted position.

Alternately the tie rod I0 could have lugs projecting into keyways 24 of a clamp an'd the Atie rod end could have machine cut threads on the keys Il-Il thereof engaging similarly cut threads in the clamp.

said slot, and a sleeve threaded on said'female member having a helical keyway of different pitch than the pitch of the thread on the female member receiving said lug whereby rotation of the sleeve on the female member will longitudinally shift the male member in the female memareas 25 are provided between each keyway 24.

These land areas 25, as shown in Figure 6, are

threaded as at 26 with a thread adapted to receive the thread on the end II of the tie rod I0.

The clamp I9 can be made from a flat sheet of metal by stamping the ridges therein to form the keyways 24. In the fiat condition these ridges will extend lengthwise of the sheet in parallel relation at an angle coinciding with the desired helix angle. When the blank is still in the flat stage of fabrication, the ears 2I--2I can be formed therein. The thus-shaped blank is wrapped to a circular inside diameter to .form the sleeve portion 20. A machine-cut thread is then tapped into the minor diameter of the circular sleeve portion 20 to form the threads 26 on the land areas 25. The keyways 24 and the threads 26 extend in the same direction and can be considered as threads of the same hand. When using 1/8 inch metal stock to form the clamp, for example, the stamped in threads or keyways 24 preferably have a lead .ound 1/2 inch per revolution and the stock is bent to a 1 inch minor diameter. The small threads 26 in such installations then preferably have a M6 or 1,48 inch lead per revolution.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, when the clamp I9 is rotated on the threaded end II of the rod I0 for one revolution to move the clamp away from ilush relation with the free end of the rod as shown in Figure 2, to the position shown in Figure 3, the cooperating lugs I8 on the tie rod end shankl and the keyways 24 will move the shank I6 out of the rod I0 a distance equivalent to the difference in lead of the two sets of threads. Thus if the clamp I9 advances 1 /16 inch on the rod I0, the shank I6 will move out-of the rod a much greater distance depending upon the differencel in lead of the lugs` I8 and keyways 24 and the threads 26 and threads on the end II. If the keyways and lugs have a 1/2 inch lead. and

ber.

2. An adjustable link assembly comprising longitudinally shiftable telescoped members, the outer member of said telescoped members being externally threaded and having a longitudinal slot therethrough, threads on the inner of said telescoped members projecting through saidslot, a sleeve threaded on the outer member having a second thread engaging the projecting threads of said inner member and said sets of cooperating-threads having different leads extending in the same direction.

3. An adjustable link assembly comprising longitudinally shiftable links each having external threads extending in the same direction, said threads having different leads, land an internally threaded sleeve member enveloping said members having sets of threads engaging the threads of the members whereby rotation of said sleeve will longitudinally shift the members in accordance with the diierences in leads of said threads.

4. A rod and tube assembly comprising a hollow externally threaded tube having a longitudinal slot along the threaded portion thereof, a rod inserted in said tube having spaced thread-providing lugs projecting through said slot above the root diameter of the threads on the tube, and a sleeve threaded on said tube having thread-forming keyways receiving said lugs, said lugs and keyways having a different lead than the thread on the tube whereby rotation of the sleeve on the tube will longitudinally shift the rod in ac- 'i cordance with the diierence in leads of the l threads.

of the rod above the root diameter of the threads on the rod, and a clamp threaded on said rod having a helical keyway receiving said lug, said clamp being contractible to clamp the rod onto said stem.

6. A tie rod and tie rod end assembly comprising a tie rod having a`hollow longitudinally slotted externally threaded end portion, a tie rod end having a stem seated in said end portion, an inclined transverse lug on said stem projecting through said slot above the root diameter of the thread on the rod, and a clamp threaded on said rod having a helical keyway receiving said lug.

'7. A tie rod and tie rod end assembly comprising a tubular tie rod having an externally threaded end portion with diametrically opposed slots extending longitudinally inward from the end of the rod, a tie rod end having a stem seated in said tie rod, said tie rod end havinglongitudinally extending keys thereon projecting into said slot and terminating at a level beneath the root diameter of the thread on the rod, each of said keys having spaced transverse lugs projecting therefrom above the root diameter of the thread on the rod, a clamp threaded on said rod having a helical keyway'receiving said lugs, and means for contracting said clamp to secure the stem in the tie rod. 8. A tie rod and tie rod end assembly comprising a hollow tubular rod having an external fine.

thread therearound and a longitudinal slot therethrough along the threaded portion thereof, a tie rod end having a stem seated 'in said tie rod, means on said stem projecting through said slot, and a sleeve threaded on said tie rod having a coarse keyway receiving said means.

9. A clamp assembly comprising a. split member having a sleeve portion and spaced opposed depending clamping ears, said sleeve portion having ridges providing a helical keyway therein, and

threads in said sleeve portion between the helical keyway.

10. A tie rod end socket having a laterally extending stem, a raised longitudinally extending key on said stem, and lugs on said key projecting in spaced relation from each other above the key.

11. An adjustable link assembly comprising a slotted female member, a male member extending into the female member, a sleeve on the female member, means rotatably connecting the sleeve and female member, and means acting through the slot of the female member connecting the sleeve and male member to cooperate with said means rotatably connecting the sleeve and female member for effecting relative shifting of the male and female members upon rotation of the sleeve.

12. An adjustable link assembly comprising a slotted female member, a 'male member extending into said female member having a key proend against substantial rotation relative to the tie rod, and a sleeve rotatable on said tie rod having separate sets of. different threads respectively cooperating with the tie rod and tie rod end to shift the tie rod end relative to the tie rod upon rotation of the sleeve.

- JAMES H.BOOTH. 

